Eye kid you not! Doctors find tiny wooden splinter buried in man’s cornea which had gone unnoticed for 15 years

• He suffered an agonising ‘penetrating injury’ while gardening in the late 2000s 

A man who went for a routine eye check-up was found to have a splinter lurking in his cornea — and doctors say it had been there for 15 years.

He suffered an agonising ‘penetrating injury’ while gardening in the late 2000s but thought nothing of it because his pain faded over time.

Medics wanted to check his eyes because of his diabetes, which can lead to vision loss if issues aren’t caught early.

Tests showed nothing immediately wrong his eyes.

A man who went for a routine eye check-up was found to have a splinter lurking in his cornea — and doctors say it had been there for 15 years. Pictured, the splinter on closer inspection

However, he was noted to have a ‘foreign body’ traversing his cornea, the clear dome-shaped, outermost layer.

Closer inspection revealed the lodged object was a 3mm wooden splinter. 

Ophthalmologists at Wayne State University in Detroit and Harvard Medical School shared pictures of it in BMJ Case Reports. 

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The unidentified man, in his 30s, is thought to have lived in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Writing in the journal, experts called the case ‘remarkable’. 

The team said: ‘Most cases are detected and managed promptly after the injury, as they often cause significant pain, redness and tearing, and serve as a nidus for infection. 

‘However, in some instances, the foreign body may be asymptomatic and can remain undetected for an extended period.’

Medics didn’t confirm if they removed the splinter. 

Extraction of foreign objects buried in the eye can prove extremely tricky because of their delicate location.  

The man was told to carry on with normal life and circle back if he suffered any pain, redness or vision problems. 

They warned the splinter could have perforated his cornea, a gruesome injury which could have blinded him.

Discussing his original gardening injury, the team said: ‘The patient had a history of a penetrating eye injury sustained while gardening 15 years ago. 

‘At the time of the injury, the patient reported experiencing immediate pain and discomfort but decided not to seek medical attention as the symptoms seemed to resolve over time. 

‘No further ophthalmic evaluation or treatment was pursued, and the patient’s vision appeared stable over the years.’

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